Optima delivers acoustic glass partitioning and flexible glazing
at London’s new City Hall

Reimagining the public brief

Turning an angular, all-glass form into a civic building came with distinct challenges. The design team reshaped the interior to support transparency, public engagement and democratic function – while maintaining clarity of movement and comfort. On the ground floor, the building opens directly onto the Docks. London’s Living Room wraps the perimeter with floor-to-ceiling glazing that draws the public in. Inside, mature trees and British timber joinery create calm, natural spaces for pause and informal work. The adjacent Committee Rooms are arranged around the space with welcoming porches that humanise scale. Warm underlighting and tactile finishes lead visitors into brighter, more formal volumes designed for public meetings.

Collaborative fit-out

Optima worked with the architects and ISG Agility to deliver tailored glazing and partitioning solutions across the ground floor and upper levels. The scope required precise coordination to meet the building’s geometric challenges and acoustic needs. Our role focused on acoustic glass partitioning, demountable glazing systems and thoughtful detailing to support accessibility, zoning and future flexibility.

Ground floor acoustic strategy

A key requirement for the Committee Rooms was acoustic privacy. We used Revolution 100 double glazed partitions to form the main enclosures, with Revolution 54 (Shoreditch Edition) and double-glazed Edge Symmetry doors installed in each room. These systems replaced an open-plan layout with spaces where confidential meetings and civic discussions can take place without disruption. To support accessibility, we installed Kinetic Aero bi-parting sliding doors and side screens at the entrance to Committee Room 1. At other access points, we set angled double doors using Kinetic Align (Shoreditch Edition) to subtly reference the building’s original crystalline form. Where partitions run in parallel, they define clear circulation routes and aid wayfinding. This layout also allows the adjoining, outward-facing spaces to be used for events without affecting committee activity.

Supporting civic function

Security and clarity were both essential near the building’s main entrance. An 1800mm-high glazed balustrade now encloses the Security Area around the speed gates, offering safety without compromising openness. This balustrade also provides subtle zoning in the Chamber, creating defined enclosures for general and wheelchair-accessible seating. Elsewhere in the Chamber Atrium, we installed 4.4m-high Optima 117 Plus partitions to act as secondary glazing. These provide privacy and acoustic control while matching the scale and clarity of the highly glazed facade. All partitions, doors and balustrades include DDA-compliant manifestation for visibility and safety.

Workspaces above

On Level 1, we used Revolution 100 glazed partitions with Edge Series doors to maintain acoustic performance across a mix of enclosed spaces. In some areas, ±40mm deflection was specified to align with the existing facade geometry. Level 2 features Revolution 54 double glazed partitioning with single- or double-glazed Edge Symmetry doors. These areas provide light-filled, private workspaces that support user comfort while maintaining visual coherence with the rest of the building.

Built for long-term flexibility

All Optima systems are dry-jointed and fully demountable. This means layouts can be reconfigured easily, helping the GLA respond to future changes in use, working styles or team structures – without waste or disruption.

Sustainability built in

City Hall now runs on 100% renewable electricity. A 1,550m² photovoltaic array provides clean energy, solar thermal systems heat water, and ground-source heat pumps supply heating and cooling. Inside, triple glazing, LEDs and occupancy sensors reduce energy demand across the board. The retrofit also addressed water use and materials. A 60,000-litre rainwater tank halves water consumption, supported by efficient fittings. Public refill stations help reduce plastic waste, and biodiversity has improved through bee-friendly landscaping. Much of the building’s furniture was reused from the previous City Hall, and carpet tiles made from recycled fishing nets further reduce embodied carbon.

Designed for everyone

Inclusion was central to the design. City Hall now offers unisex WCs and showers, a Changing Places facility for complex needs, a multi-faith room and a parent room. Wayfinding, hearing loops and accessible signage support users with visual, cognitive and auditory impairments – embedding long-term social sustainability into the design.

Outcome and recognition

The new City Hall reflects the GLA’s values: openness, inclusivity and adaptability. The retrofit balances public access, sustainability and acoustic performance in one coherent whole. In 2024, the project won the Architects’ Journal Retrofit and Re-use Award (Fit-out over £2m), recognising its success in transforming a former exhibition space into a high-functioning civic building.

Visitor information
Public areas are open Monday to Thursday from 08:30 to 18:00, and Friday until 17:30.
Venue hire is available for events.

Photographer © Jim Stephenson